Graven, David L., 1929-1991.

David L. Graven was born on July 22, 1929 in Minneapolis. Graven grew up in Greene County, Iowa, the son of a federal district judge, and graduated from St. Olaf College in 1950. After receiving his law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1953, Graven worked for the law firm of Dorsey & Associates for seven months, then served in Germany as a first lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General's Corps until 1957. Upon return to the United States, Graven formed a partnership with Russell Olson in Albert Lea, Minnesota and also served under Olson as an assistant attorney to Freeborn County.

In 1964 Graven accepted a post as a professor in the University of Minnesota's law school. He taught in the school until 1974 when he went back into private practice with James S. Holmes and Robert E. Kircher. This practice was later chartered under the name of Holmes and Graven. Graven remained with this firm until his death in 1991.

Active in state politics, Graven attended the 1960, 1964, and 1968 Democratic National Conventions as a Minnesota delegate and served as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party State Executive Committee from 1964 through 1970. Twice unsuccessful in his own campaign bids: Graven ran for a seat in the U.S. House in 1962 but lost to Al Quie and ran for the democratic nomination for governor in 1970 but lost that bid to Wendell Anderson. Graven was one of the founding members of Minnesotans for Durenberger, which helped elect Durenberger to the U.S. Senate in 1982 under an independent ticket.

Active in community dialogues regarding policy, particularly in the areas of public affairs, transportation, and health care, Graven served on a number of councils, coalitions, and committees. His participation as a voluntary member or appointed commissioner have included such organizations as the Albert Lea City Planning Commission (1958-1961), the Minnesota Uniform Law Commission (1958-1961), the Citizens League (1963-1970 and 1974-1991), the Hennepin County Legal Aid Society (1967-1975), the Metropolitan Council (1971-1974), the Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Criminal procedure (1971-1991), the Metropolitan Transportation Advisory Board (1977-1984), the Minnesota Coalition on Health Care Costs (1983-1984), the Community Advisory Council of the University of Minnesota's Center for Biomedical Ethics (1987-1991), and the University's Health Sciences Advisory Committee (1989).

Biographical information was taken from the collection.

From the guide to the David L. Graven papers., 1936-1992 (bulk 1949-1991)., (Minnesota Historical Society)